Making Offers and Requests

It is common that English speakers make offers in conversations in order to be polite and helpful. When they
do so they use these expressions:

Can I… ?
Shall I… ?
Would you like … ?
How about ...?

English learner must be able to make offers as well as accept or reject them. The following are useful
expressions to do so.

Can I help you?

Shall get you some juice?

Would you like a glass of water ?
How about some pizza?

Examples: Remember:

 "Can I help you?"  Shall, can and will are followed by

 "Shall I open the window for you?" the verb without to.
 "Would you like another cup of Example:
coffee?" "Can I help you?"
 "Would you like me to clean the "Shall I bring you the mobile phone?
board?"  Shall is more formal than can.
 "How about a juice? "  Would you like… is followed either
by a noun, or by the verb with to.
Example:
"Would you like some tea ?"
"Would you like to drink some
coffee?
Responding to offers

Accepting Declining
Yes please. I'd like to. It's OK, I can do it myself.
That would be very kind of you. Don't worry, I'll do it.
Yes please, that would be lovely. No, thanks
Yes please, I'd love to. No, thank you
If you wouldn't mind.
If you could.
Thank you, that would be great.

Examples:

 "Can I help you?"  "Would you like another piece of

"No thanks, I'm just having a look."
(With a shop assistant.)
 "Can I help you?"
"Do you know where the post office
is."
 "Shall I help you with your maths
problem?"
"Yes, please. That would be very
nice of you."
 "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No thanks." Or, "No thank you."
cake?"
"Yes please, that would be nice ."
"Yes please, I'd love one."
 "Would you like me to do the the
ironing for you?"
"If you wouldn't mind."
"If you could."
 "I'll do the washing, if you like."
"It's OK, I can do it."
"Don't worry, I'll do it."
"Thank you, that would be great."

Asking others to do things – making requests

Asking Saying Yes Saying No

Can you...? Yes, sure. Well, I'm afraid + reason

Could you...?
Is it all right if you...?
Yes, of course. Well, the problem is
Do you think you could...?
Certainly. Sorry, but...
Will you...?
Would you...?

Do you mind -ing...? No, not at all.

Would you mind -ing...? Of course not.